Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 413

“Hmm.”

Jong-myeong, having set down the documents, removed the eyeglasses perched on his nose.

“The catch this month is particularly low.”

“That is correct.”

“The reason?”

His aide, Sang-gak, lowered his head.

“We are still investigating, but it seems there has been some trouble in the southern region.”

“Trouble? Surely, the Wae [Japanese pirates] or Western barbarians aren’t interfering with the fishing?”

“That is not the case.”

“Indeed, if such people had appeared, the regional command would have sent troops first. Then, what is the reason?”

“It seems to be… because of martial artists.”

Jong-myeong’s eyes deepened.

“Martial artists?”

“Yes. Many of the righteous sects that were in charge of maintaining civil order in southern Guangdong have been annihilated.”

“Annihilated, you say.”

Jong-myeong leaned back in his chair.

His expression didn’t change much. However, Jong-myeong’s mood was not good.

‘Again, martial artists.’

He did not like the kind of people who were martial artists.

It wasn’t that his family had been harmed by martial artists, nor had he ever suffered losses because of them. In other words, he did not hate martial artists.

Jong-myeong was a person who denied the very existence of martial artists.

The reason was simple. They were largely free from the imperial law and could not be controlled.

From a national perspective, that was a serious risk factor. Fortunately, after the signing of the absurd non-aggression pact between the empire and the martial world, the righteous sects had greatly contributed to public safety, which was why he had remained silent until now.

‘They are outlaws. It’s too much.’

Clearly, the righteous sects were doing a good job of filling the gaps that the empire had overlooked. Furthermore, the righteous sects regularly sent talented individuals to the imperial palace to strengthen the military, so in a way, they were indispensable.

However, even so, the fact that they, as subjects of the empire, were free from the law was a big problem.

Even when granting privileges to high-ranking officials who had made great contributions to the country, there were endless debates. Yet, martial artists, without having made such contributions, had largely escaped the bounds of the law.

‘If they decided to rise up, it would be a huge blow to the current empire.’

Of course, the probability of that happening was low. If a war broke out between the state and the martial world, the empire would suffer great damage, but the martial world would inevitably face the threat of extinction.

Even so, the fact that their existence itself was a threat did not change.

What family would raise a wolf to guard their house instead of a dog? A dog wouldn’t bite its owner even when hungry, but a wolf would devour its owner when hungry.

Martial artists were like that. Savage outlaws who could turn at any moment.

‘I need to sort them out sometime.’

Jong-myeong sighed inwardly.

‘I can’t move as I please.’

Although the Seungseon Deputy Governor was in charge of governing a province, he did not have military power.

The province’s governance, military affairs, and judiciary were divided into separate institutions, and they did not interfere with each other. It was as if they were from different families.

‘If I were the Regional Commander instead of the Deputy Governor, I would have persuaded the Five Armies Command to wipe out all the martial arts sects in Guangdong.’

Wiping them out didn’t necessarily mean killing them all. Even just driving them out to other regions would make controlling Guangdong much easier.

Jong-myeong, who had been lost in thought, clicked his tongue.

‘What am I thinking?’

Perhaps because his mind had been so complicated lately, he was thinking of radical policies that he would not normally consider.

“It seems they’re fighting among themselves again. It’s fine. It’s not like it’s the first time they’ve been at each other’s throats.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Whatever it is, in the short term, it will harm the common people, but in the long term, it’s not so bad. If they destroy themselves in this opportunity, that would be even better…”

Suddenly, Jong-myeong tilted his head.

“Wait. Did you say the southern region?”

“Yes, I did.”

“The southern region… where the Eun Clan is located?”

Sang-gak sighed.

“Fortunately, the Eun Clan has not been annihilated.”

“…Hmm. That’s a relief.”

Although he did not tolerate the existence of martial artists, the Eun Clan was not bad.

No, they were rather good. The Eun Clan was a martial arts clan, but originally, until a hundred years ago, they were a family of civil officials who had devoted themselves to the empire.

After a certain incident nearly uprooted the family, they accidentally acquired martial arts manuals and became a martial arts clan, but their loyalty to the empire was still steadfast.

In other words, it was because of the Eun Clan that the martial world in southern Guangdong could be maintained peacefully without any major incidents.

Jong-myeong was planning to recommend the head of the Eun Clan to the empire’s military administration in the future. With that level of character and martial prowess, the empire would surely welcome him.

“But, what on earth happened that so many sects were suddenly annihilated? The Eun Clan should have been mediating well?”

“I am not sure about that either. We are still investigating, and if the head of the Eun Clan cooperates, we should know the cause within three or four days.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

It was then.

“O-Old Master!”

A hurried voice was heard from outside the door.

Jong-myeong frowned.

“What is it? I told you not to disturb me during my work hours.”

“Something terrible has happened!”

Jong-myeong and Sang-gak’s faces hardened.

It was rare to hear such urgency in a voice over a trivial matter. Come to think of it, it was the first time in the past few years that the head of the guards, who had been protecting this place, had been so flustered.

“Terrible? Has something gone wrong?”

“A cavalryman of unknown identity is charging towards this place at a terrifying speed within the jurisdiction! Many of the soldiers who approached to identify him have been injured!”

“A cavalryman?!”

“Yes! He is riding a red divine horse that is rarely seen in the world, and he is charging towards this place with a huge axe!”

Jong-myeong’s eyes wavered.

“A cavalryman? Is he not a martial artist?”

“It is not certain, but his breakthrough power is extraordinary! He is breaking through everything that tries to stop him, and the power with which he wields his axe is not human!”

Sang-gak hurriedly asked.

“Putting aside everything else, is it certain that the cavalryman is coming here?”

“At every fork in the road, he is taking the shortest route to this residence! The probability that this residence is the cavalryman’s destination is over 90%!”

“T-This is terrible!”

Sang-gak said to Jong-myeong.

“Old Master! You must take shelter first!”

Jong-myeong’s eyes deepened.

“This is my residence. It is the house and workplace that the state has given me to do my job. Where would I go?”

“Old Master! If, by any chance, that person’s target is you…!”

“Of course, it would be me.”

“E-Excuse me?!”

“If the head of the guards is making such a fuss, it means that it is difficult to stop him with our forces. Moreover, if he knows the shortest route to this residence, it is only a matter of time before he catches us even if we run away.”

Jong-myeong closed his eyes.

“If I could save my life by fleeing, I would do it a thousand times, but I don’t want to show a disgraceful appearance to an unknown ruffian who has already come right up to our doorstep.”

“Old Master!”

“And.”

Flash!

Jong-myeong’s eyes, which had opened again, were blazing like fire.

“I want to see him. Why is he targeting me? Although I have not lived as a saint according to the words of the sages, I am confident that I have not harmed anyone, so I am curious as to what grudge he has against me.”

Sang-gak was restless.

“Please get up now! The opponent is likely a martial artist! Those guys are uncontrollable…!”

“Don’t worry.”

The corners of Jong-myeong’s mouth curled up.

It was a complex smile that conveyed bitterness, anticipation, and fatigue.

“If the rumor that an unidentified martial artist killed the Deputy Governor spreads throughout the world, the empire’s view of the martial world will not be favorable.”

“…Surely, you are not intentionally staying behind?”

“My life is precious too. It’s not that I’m staying here just because I don’t want to show a disgraceful appearance.”

“Old Master! Please reconsider now…!”

“His target is definitely me, but somehow, I don’t think he wants my death.”

“E-Excuse me?!”

His fatigue was chronic due to excessive workload.

However, even in urgent moments, Jong-myeong did not lose his unique sharpness. Regardless of his personal ideology, he was a self-made man who had risen from the bottom to the position of Seungseon Deputy Governor.

“If someone with that level of skill was aiming for my life, he wouldn’t have charged in on horseback in broad daylight. He would have rather sneaked in and attempted an assassination.”

Sang-gak was momentarily speechless. Jong-myeong’s words seemed plausible.

Jong-myeong spoke towards the door.

“Head of the guards. Open the way. Do not cause unnecessary casualties.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

How much time had passed?

“Stop! This is the residence of the Seungseon Deputy Governor! Get off your horse and reveal your identity…!”

“Get out of the way!”

Kwaaaang!

The earth shook with a tremendous explosion.

It was an enormous shockwave. Even Jong-myeong, who was sitting in his office, felt his body tremble.

Jong-myeong’s eyes wavered.

‘Amazing.’

How far was it from here to the main gate? Yet, there was an explosion that sounded like it would burst his eardrums, and the shock was transmitted all the way here.

How strong would one have to be to do this? What kind of martial arts would one have to master to show such overwhelming breakthrough power?

Shortly after.

Paah! Kwaang!

Surprise appeared on Jong-myeong’s face.

A wall in the distance collapsed, and soon, a young man appeared.

‘…!!’

It was an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

He was wearing black-gray iron chains on his upper body and light armor on his whole body. In one hand, he held a double-edged axe as big as a person’s torso, and its ferocity was indescribable.

Jong-myeong rose from his seat.

The young man, Yeon Ho-Jeong, asked Jong-myeong.

“Are you Deputy Governor Jong-myeong?”

“That’s right. And who are you to commit such rudeness?”

“I will reveal my identity later. Let’s move out right now.”

“Nonsense! Not only did you break into the Deputy Governor’s residence, but you also injured the national soldiers and me, the administrator…!”

It was then.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was about to open his mouth to interrupt Jong-myeong, suddenly saw red smoke rising from far away outside the window.

It was smoke rising from a place far away from here. Even though the wind was blowing, it was rising straight up into the sky, and if it was so clear from here, it meant that smoke was pouring out of an entire mountain.

And that direction was south, where Muk Bi and Sama Hyeon had gone.

‘…?!’

Yeon Ho-Jeong amplified his senses. The Yeon Family Divine Core [a technique that enhances senses] rotated at high speed, scanning the area.

‘There’s no one.’

There was no one. There wasn’t a single suspicious person. Unless Yayul Jeok was deliberately using stealth techniques, it would be difficult for any assassin in the world to escape Yeon Ho-Jeong’s senses.

‘Then what is it?!’

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong caught Sang-gak’s gaze.

The expression that had been full of anger and bewilderment suddenly turned cold, and his eyes were tinged with a subtle murderous intent.

And Sang-gak’s position was to the left front of Jong-myeong.

“……”

A strange silence fell for a moment.

Chaaaaang!

Sang-gak, having drawn a dagger from his waist, swung his hand at an incredible speed.

The target was, none other than, Jong-myeong’s neck.